TMC’s block president was shot dead. (Representational Image) 

TMC’s Khoyrasol block president Dipak Ghosh, who was shot at while he was on his way home on a motorcycle in Birbhum, succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon. Police have detained four persons in connection with the incident.

While the TMC blamed BJP and called it a “pre-planned murder”, BJP rubbished the allegation and claimed it was a result of “infighting”. Police said Ghosh was shot at by some miscreants who fired at him and later attacked him with a sharp weapon. He was rushed to a local hospital and later shifted to a facility in Durgapur, West Burdwan, but did not survive.

TMC’s Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal said, “It was a pre-planned murder. The BJP hatched a conspiracy to kill our block president. Law will take its course, but our party will not keep quiet.”

“It is a result of infighting. TMC leaders have found themselves in such a situation over illegal coal mining in Khoyrasol area where TMC has opened 2-3 party offices. Violent incidents had taken place earlier in that area over coal mining related disputes between rival groups of TMC. TMC leaders and anti-socials have turned people’s lives into nightmares. To hide this, they are blaming BJP. We want an impartial probe into this and the culprits must be booked,” said state BJP president Dilip Ghosh.

Dilip Ghosh also slammed Mondal for his “failure to control his party workers”. “He must answer why a large number of incidents of violence are taking place in his district. Instead of arresting the culprits, BJP’s name is being dragged into such incidents. He should control his party workers in the district and ensure the rule of law,” he said. n response, ondal said, “I don’t want to react to his statements.”